| MTV Unplugged |  | List Price: $64.98
Buy New: $34.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 21 reviews)
Category: Music
Media: DVD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
EAN: 4988009454627
ASIN: B00005GA1U
Release Date: December 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 good disc, but received a crack July 4, 2005
0 out of 10 found this review helpful
in mailing the jewel case was cracked long and diagonal down the front, must have happened in shipment, otherwise the CD is in good shape.
Maybe Bennett's Most Essential Live Recording (3.5 stars) April 20, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
To win the Album of the Year Grammy for an MTV Unplugged two years after Eric Clapton did with his classic unplugged album, to win the Grammy when acoustic shows were not near that much in vogue -- it must indicate something. And it does. Tony Bennett's comeback in 1990's could not have a better place to solidify.Second only to Frank Sinatra on the all-time list of standard 'crooners', Bennett (67 at the time) was here singing his signatures and favourites accompanied by efficient Ralph Sharon trio, of which especially the pianist Sharon deserves special attention (listen to "I Love A Piano" or his glorious solo on "Steppin' Out With My Baby"). Bennett's shoes fit best on ballads, like "It Amazes Me", "It Had To Be You" and his signature "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". k.d. lang and Elvis Costello offer guest vocals on two subtle duets. Probably unrehearsed, as a nice misstep with Elvis shows. Intimacy between Tony and the audience is almost tangible on this record. Tony sings, the audience cheers. Oh, what a night it was. Billie Holiday was right when she predicted a career for the young Italian-American Bennett back in 1950's.
 Let's get really unplugged! December 17, 2002
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Having been to many Bennett concerts, I can attest to the fact that Tony swings in front of a live audience. If there is any one artist that can be credited with keeping jazz on the front page of the American popular songbook, it is Tony Bennett. What other pop artist sells albums accompanied by only a piano? (The Bill Evans recordings.) Here, Tony uses a trio to bring down the house. Yes, there are standards, but they sound fresh and alive. It's clear that both artist and audience are having a great time and this cd conveys that excitement. On one selection Tony gets "really unplugged"! This Grammy winning cd includes duets and a short drum solo for good measure. This concert was credited with the revial of the Bennett career and one listen will make you part of that. Great support from the Ralph Sharon trio and the appreciative audience inspires Tony's offer "to come back someday and sing all new songs." MTV take him up on that! Until then, I will be listening to this cd.
Classic standards with today's energy August 22, 2002
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Well, the energy in one way propels this CD, and unfortunately flaws it at the same time. A whole lot of the energy comes from the audience which is great, but I don't quite believe that the response of a MTV audience to a 50's type singer was really all that great. Either there were prompters hyping the kids up, or the volume was enhanced. It does flaw the record. And while it's great that Tony Bennett appreciates the various new waves of music that have appeared since his beginnings, I must go along with those who feel that k.d. lang and Elvis Costello were mismatches for Bennett. Again, those two generate energy, but not, IMHO, completely the most appropriate energy for this CD.Be that as it may, the real energy comes from Tony himself, and he brings new life into great standards such as "Old Devil Moon", "It Had To Be You", "The Girl I Love", "Moonglow", "Body And Soul, "Autumn Leaves. And of course, there are those that one identifies with Tony such as "Rags To Riches", "When Joanna Loved Me", and his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". Thanks to Tony, composers such as E. Y. Harburg, Kurt Weil, Gus Kahn, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer live on through their music. Great performers such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Duke Ellington are honored by his interpretations of songs they made famous. Yes this CD has its flaws, but the quality shines forth and makes it definitely a four star album.
A Perfect Intro to Tony Bennett June 26, 2002
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've always enjoyed Tony Bennett's voice when I've heard it, but until I bought this album, I had never owned any Bennett music. This was a great intoduction. The choices of standards here are excellent, and ensure that we get to hear Tony singing without any poor material to bring him down. His backing band, the Ralph Sharon Trio, is wonderful. The audience is ebullient and keeps the energy high all the way through. And Tony is in great form despite his age - he hits all the high notes and his interpretation is dead on. I'm also an Elvis Costello fan, so his duet with Tony on "They Can't Take That Away From Me" was a real kick. All in all, Tony is about a zillion times more animated, entertaining, and talented than the rest of the dreck MTV puts out. On the album, Tony says he'd love to come back, and MTV should take him up on that.My favorites: "Old Devil Moon," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" (of course), "Steppin' Out," "Can't Take That Away From Me," and "Autumn Leaves." Complaints: Yes, the applause is too loud. The whole world loves Tony Bennett, they don't need to reinforce that point with thunderous applause mixing. Also, I love K.D. Lang's voice, but I didn't like the duet she does with Tony on "Moonglow." These complaints don't take away from a great album, though. If you want to get to know the great Tony Bennett, this is where to start.
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